General Tire's Support of Short-Course Racing Runs Deep With Drivers Like Renezeder

Fort Mill, SC – March 29, 2012. The 2012 Lucas Oil Off-Road Racing Series (LOORRS) season kicks off this weekend at Firebird Raceway and General Tire will be there in full-effect. General Tire’s support of short-course racing runs deep, since its inception, General Tire has been a sponsor of LOORRS, and numerous teams. Even recently expanding its efforts into the Lucas Oil Regional Off Road Series as a contingency sponsor. General Tire is part of the fabric of the sport so their four year partnership with eight-time champion Carl Renezeder is no surprise.

A true champion in every sense of the word, Renezeder has accrued 97 career short-course wins and eight championships to date. On track, Renezeder is a fierce competitor who other drivers admire and fear, all at the same time. And as he prepares for the 2012 season, Renezeder is hoping to amass his 100th career short-course win in addition to chalking up a ninth championship for the record books. We sat down with Renezeder to get a little more insight into the driver that is one of the best to ever step on a short-course track and here’s what he had to say:

Q: You’re heading into your 14th season in short-course racing. How has the sport evolved during that time?

A: The sport itself has stayed fairly consistent with its roots as far as the Pro2 and Pro4 classes and rules are concerned, but everything else has been elevated to new levels. The trucks are faster, tracks are better, and the competition is deeper. The biggest change is the exposure Lucas Oil has provided through their television packages! Our sport has made huge advancements in popularity because more people can watch our trucks race on television. From major networks such as CBS to the popular cable TV channels such as Speed Channel, Versus, and MAV TV. This is the type of exposure we need to continue to grow, thanks to the Lucas Oil Team. Sponsors like General Tire have also helped us expand outside the track through ads and promotions which is a huge asset.

Q: How does the competition look for the 2012 season? What’s it going to
take to get to win #100?

A: The team has been fine-tuning the trucks from suspension to drivetrain to insure that the trucks will be powerful, nimble, predictable, and flat out fast making sure the 100th win happens sooner rather than later.

Q: What are some of the keys to getting around Firebird Raceway?

A: First and foremost is to stay out of trouble, be fast, take advantage of your opportunities, and be in striking position at the finish! But most importantly, have the best tires, which I do with my General’s!

Q: What can fans expect to see at this weekend’s race?

A: Door banging, high flying, hot rod trucks getting it on!Q: How do you physically prepare for the demands of short-course racing?

A: I train about two hours a day. Mostly cardio and core work. I ride my mountain bike three to four days a week, swim two miles about four to five times a week, and weight train about three days a week. I like to surf and ski, big waves and steep mountains.

Q: You recently announced a cool Twitter promotion where fans can win the
opportunity to take a lap with you around the track. Tell us about that
and how fans can enter? A: We announced a contest to commemorate our 100th win, what better way to give back to our fans than to let them experience short-course racing for themselves. Fans can enter on our Facebook fan page:www.facebook.com/TeamRenezeder

Q: If you had to describe short-course racing to a new fan, what would you
tell them?

A: It’s the most extreme type of motorsports. We launch 4,000 pound trucks, with 900 horsepower, through the air like motorcycles on a super cross track, only we fly farther. I would say seeing them on TV is awesome, but experiencing it live is 10 times better.

For more information on the LOORRS event at Firebird Raceway, and the activities surrounding the event, make sure to visit www.lucasoiloffroad.com.